Modernization is an integral aspect of our lives. Every day, new advancements are brought in almost any areas from the cellular phones to the computer to the transportation system we are using. Innovation has become a natural and integral part of the growing and learning environments in this new generation. Technology is now part in the majority of daily living activities. These modern aspects are even more common and sophisticated in first world countries such that their absence is more remarkable than their presence. It is almost akin to an invisible cloth – undistinguished among jeans, shirts and dresses.

Modernization is now a way of life. Businesses either embrace it or perish. Industrialization brought by modernization resulted in mass production of things and gadgets, making companies more competitive and have made life more comfortable and easier.

Yet the rapid industrialization to meet public demand affects the environment. Industrialization in the Philippines, coupled with urbanization due to population growth and destructive logging, set a record high rate of 300,000 hectares forest destruction and conversion annually in the 1960s (Forest Management Bureau, 2009). Moreover, industries' untreated waste water discharges on surface water causes high biochemical oxygen demand, nitrate, phosphate and low oxygen contents on river (Gyawali, Techato & Yuangyai, 2012). These industrial wastes also reduce organic matter, thereby reducing soil fertility.

Environmental pollution has become like the twin product of modernization. These environmental degradations, moreover, can never be isolated as it ultimately affects animals and humans directly or indirectly.

Deterioration of water quality by a single grade (on a six-grade scale) in China's river basins, for instance, increases the digestive cancer death rate by 9.7 percent, even when other factors are not considered (Ebenstein, 2010). Toxic substances, particularly toxic metals, used in the industries may enter into the environment and affect the ecological balance and diversity of aquatic organisms (Farombi, et al., 2007 Vosyliene and Jankaite, 2006 Ashraj, 2005). Traces of mercury attributed to mining operations in Diwalwal, Monkayo, Compostela Valley have been recorded by Roa (2007) in the sediments, plants and fish in the upstream and downstream of Agusan Marsh. Fish are among the inhabitants that cannot escape from the detrimental effects of these pollutants, (Olaifa et al., 2004 Clarkson, 1998 Dickman and Leung, 1998).

The problem of toxic bioaccumulation intensifies as this substance may reach human in a higher concentration by eating contaminated organisms in a process known as biomagnification, the increase in concentration of toxic as it moves higher in the food chain.

We are facing these environmental problems that ultimately affect us. We created these problems and we must find solutions to preserve and enhance our environmental resources. By protecting our environment, we are actually doing ourselves a favor to survive and live harmoniously with the world. #

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References:

Ashraj, W. (2005). Accumulation of heavy metals in kidney and heart tissues of Epinephelus microdon fish from the Arabian Gulf. Environ. Monit. Assess., 101(1-3), 311-316.

Clarkson, T. W. (1998). Human toxicology of mercury. J . Trace. Elem. Exp. M ed., 11(2-3), 303-317.

Dickman, M. D. Leung, K. M., (1998 ). Mercury and organo chlorine  exposure from fish consumption in Hong Kong. Chemosphere, 37(5), 991-1015.

Ebenstein, A. (2010). The Consequences of Industrialization: Evidence from Water Pollution and Digestive Cancers in China. Review of Economics and Statistics. doi:10.1162/REST_a_00510.

Farombi, E.O, Adel Owo, O.A. Ajimok o., Y.R., (2007). Biomarkers of oxidative stress and heavy metal levels as indicators of environmental pollution in African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) from Nigeria ogun river. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health ., 4(2), 158-165.

Forest Management Bureau. (2009). Philippine forestry outlook study. Bangkok: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

Gyawali, S., Techato, K., Yuangyai, C. (2012). Effects of Industrial Waste Disposal on the Surface Water Quality of U-tapao River, Thailand. 2012 International Conference on Environment Science and Engieering, 32, 109-113.

Olaifa, F. G. Olaifa, A. K. Onwude, T. E., (2004). Lethal and sublethal effects of copper to the African Cat fish (Clarias gariepnus). Afr. J. Biomed. Res., 7, 65-70.

Roa, E.C. 2007. Mercury pollution: A threat to Agusan Marsh. In First Agusan Marsh Scientific Conference. May 21-25, 2007, Balanghai Hotel, Butuan City, Philippines.

Vosyliene, M. Z. Jankaite, A., (2006). Effect of heavy metal model mixture on rainbow trout biological parameters. Ekologija., 4, 12-17.